How to Fix Windows 10 Search Bar Closes After Typing

Many users report that when they open Windows Search and type any letter, the search bar closes after typing. Sometimes Windows 10 Search bar crashes immediately after opening and before they can type anything.

This happens likely due to corrupt files in your system, and you might need to replace a damaged file or a registry entry or reinstall Cortana to solve this issue, as explained in this article.

So, to fix it, you will need to run the DISM and sfc/ scannow commands on the command prompt, reinstall Cortana through Windows PowerShell, or delete the Search folder in Windows Registry, as shown below.

I recommend you try these different methods until you find the one that fixes your problem.

(The fixes don’t necessarily need to be applied in the order below, you can start by reinstalling Cortana or replacing your registry entries.)

Fix 1: Repair Corrupt Files in the Command Prompt

The first method involves using the System File Checker to fix your system. The System File Checker is useful when some “Windows functions aren’t working, or Windows crashes.”

To use this tool, we will run two commands in the cmd: DISM and the sfc /scannow. To try this method:

1. Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog, type cmd, and hit the Enter key:
   
2. In the Command Prompt, run the DISM command below:
   DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
   
   The DISM command uses Windows Update to get the files needed to fix your system. So, it is essential that your Windows Update client is working and that you are connected online.
3. Wait while DISM repairs your system; this process might take 15-20 minutes.
4. After that, run the following command:
   sfc /scannow
   
   As stated by Microsoft, this will “scan all protected system files and replace corrupted files with a cached copy that is located in a compressed folder” on your PC.
5. Restart your PC.

If the problem continues, move to the next step to try reinstalling Cortana through Windows PowerShell as in the following step.

Fix 2: Reinstall Cortana to Fix Windows Search

Another method that works for many users is reinstalling the Cortana Windows app.

This works because the Cortana Windows app is also responsible for the search bar in Windows, and reinstalling it ensures that new ones replace corrupt files.

You can do this via PowerShell:

1. Enter Windows PowerShell in Windows Search, then click on Run as Administrator:
   
2. Enter the following command and press enter to reinstall Cortana:
   Get-AppXPackage -Name Microsoft.Windows.Cortana | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}
   
   (If you get an error when trying to run this command in Windows PowerShell, read this article on how to fix “the requested operation requires elevation” on PowerShell.)
3. Restart your PC to complete it.

Now check if your search bar is still crashing. If not, try to replace the Search folder in the Registry Editor, as shown in the next step.

Fix 3: Delete the Search Folder Entry in the Registry Editor

This method will fix this issue if it is happening due to corrupt registry entries. By deleting the Search folder in the Registry Editor and restarting the PC, Windows can generate a new search folder and fresh registry entries.

To do this:

1. Press the Windows key + R, type regedit, and hit the Enter key:
   
2. In the Registry Editor, navigate to:
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search
   
3. Make a backup of the Search folder by right-clicking on it and selecting Export:
   
4. Right-click on the Search folder and click on Delete:
   
5. Restart your PC.

After restarting your PC, check if your Windows search bar is working correctly.

(If you want to improve your Windows Search, I’ve written an article on how to change Windows Start Menu search engine and browser.)

Conclusion

Three solutions fix the Windows 10 search bar close after typing for most users:

• Running the DISM and sfc/ scannow commands
• Deleting the search folder on Windows Registry
• Reinstalling Cortana

But if these didn’t work for you, you can try other better and faster alternatives to Windows Search like PowerToys Run or Everything. Make sure to read this article on how to make Windows 10 search faster to know more about it.